Why is the VA website so poor?
Mar 6, 2018 | 3:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, United Gold, Virgin Silver
Posts: 419
Why is the VA website so poor?
For an otherwise excellent airline, the VA website seems to be literally 3-5 years back. Crashing frequently, works poorly with Chrome, and doesn't say CC information once you are logged in.
Any sense of when the last web redesign was and whether they will update it in the near future? Buying tickets is very difficult.
Any sense of when the last web redesign was and whether they will update it in the near future? Buying tickets is very difficult.
Mar 6, 2018 | 3:43 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,948
For an otherwise excellent airline, the VA website seems to be literally 3-5 years back. Crashing frequently, works poorly with Chrome, and doesn't say CC information once you are logged in.
Any sense of when the last web redesign was and whether they will update it in the near future? Buying tickets is very difficult.
Any sense of when the last web redesign was and whether they will update it in the near future? Buying tickets is very difficult.
KISS principle is good. Better if more commercial sites used that and not have all flashing bells & whistles chewing up my computer resources/band width.
Mar 6, 2018 | 4:09 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, United Gold, Virgin Silver
Posts: 419
The QF comparison is fair, although I don't buy tickets on QF due to loyalty. My comparison is to United, which is literally years ahead of anything. I've found the SQ site to be pretty terrible, as well . I suppose scale has its benefits.
KISS principle?
KISS principle?
Mar 7, 2018 | 1:19 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,337
Because it seemed that when VA went to all SABRE, they brought in a whole new website. The service provider anecdotally used the entire budget and more to provide a very substandard result. Initially it had some incredible flaws (such as being able to book awards for just the taxes).
Over time there has been some repair but it seems there has not been the finances available to fix all the problems.
Over time there has been some repair but it seems there has not been the finances available to fix all the problems.
Mar 8, 2018 | 1:04 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
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Because they were going from a mix of Navitaire (IRRC) domestically and Amadeus Internationally to all SABRE.
This happened in early 2013.
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/virgi...pay-off-334533
This happened in early 2013.
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/virgi...pay-off-334533
Mar 9, 2018 | 7:31 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, United Gold, Virgin Silver
Posts: 419
Was the online booking system even worse in 2013 before they switched to SABRE?
So this website has been in place for 5 year. Sounds like it's due for an update, but possibly not soon.
So this website has been in place for 5 year. Sounds like it's due for an update, but possibly not soon.
Mar 13, 2018 | 12:14 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,938
I thought it was pretty much a skinned version of the standard Sabre booking engine.
(When you have done a search and are at the flight selection page, compare the source code of the Etihad website and Virgin website, and see how similar they are....)
(When you have done a search and are at the flight selection page, compare the source code of the Etihad website and Virgin website, and see how similar they are....)
Mar 16, 2018 | 2:08 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,813
Telnet and curses anyone??? I would happily swap all these flashy websites for it... Well, OK, I would prefer if Telnet was replaced by SSH... 
May 9, 2018 | 6:00 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-SLV, QF-GLD, DL-PM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,353
May 10, 2018 | 5:10 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,938
May 10, 2018 | 3:10 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,337
As for VA slow posting, this waas a real problem after last years fare structure/crediting changes but by mid year they had basically fixed it.
This recent slow crediting is a new thing - perhaps they have enhanced the process.
This recent slow crediting is a new thing - perhaps they have enhanced the process.